Box-fastener



(No Model.)

0. E. HAMS.

No. 426.803. Pmtented Apr. 29, 1890.

UNITED STATES 'ATENT Fries,

.CIIARLES E. HAMS, OF ORISKANY FALLS, ASSIGNOR TO THE OANASTOTA CASKET COMPANY, (LIMITED,) OF CANASTOTA, NEIV YORK.

BOX-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,803, dated April 29, 1890. Application filed February 6, 1890. Serial No. 339,465. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: perforated transversely and projecting from Be it known that I, CHARLES E. HAMs, of the under side of the face-plate and stand- Oriskany F ails, in the county of Oneida, in the ing parallel to each other a mortise 3, cut State of New York, have invented new and vertically through the faceplate; a guide or useful Improvements in Box-Fasteners, of guides at in the form of studs straight on which the following, taken in connection with the inner face and in line with one or more the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, sides of the mortise and projecting downward and exact deseription' from the under side of the face-plate a shaft My invention relates to box-fasteners in 5, journaled in the studs 2, having a pawl 6,

10 which a spring-pawl in the body of the fastsecured to or integral with the shaft, the ener engages with a rack or ratchet upon one shaftbeing long enough to project on one side or edge of the locking-bolt as it enters side beyond the outer face of the side of the the mortise in the face-plate, means being coffin or casket, and a spring 7, of substanalso provided to unlock it by disengaging the tially a Y form, centrally secured to the face- I 5 pawl from the ratchet, either by mounting plate, and having an arm bearing against the pawl upon a rock-shaft, one end of which the pawl and the other against one of the projects beyond the outer face of the box studs 2. through the side of the look, by which the Other forms of spring may be used which pawl may be pushed sidewise out of engagewill operate in substantially the same manner 20 ment, or bya keyso insertedthat when turned as the one shown.

its bit will engage with and lift the pawl out The locking-bolt comprises a base-plate 8, of engagement, so that the bolt can be lifted adapted to be secured upon or in the cover out. by screws, from which the bolt itself 9 pro- My object is to produce a fastener of the jects downward, it being shown as bevela,

2 5 above class which will work automatically by pointed and of rectangular form but other the weight of the cover of a coffin, casket, or forms may be used, and having a transverse box to lock it, and which can be unlocked rack or ratchet 10 upon one of its vertical 7:; readily when desired. faces, so that when the bolt enters the mor- My invention consists in the several novel tise the pawl will engage with the rack and 0 features of construction and operation heresnap from one tooth to another until the cover inafter described, and specifically set forth in is clear down, the bolt being guided and held the claim annexed hereto. It is constructed in engagement with the pawl by the guide l, as follows, reference being had to the accomand thus the pawl will lock the bolt and prepanying drawings, in whichvent its being withdrawn. To unlock it I 3 5 Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevapush in upon the projecting end of the shaft,

- tion of the fastener and of a part of a box pushing the pawl sidewise out of engageand its cover secured together. Fig. 2 is a ment with the bolt until the pawl is wholly bottom plan view of the body of the fastener free from the bolt, and then the cover can be detached. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the fastraised and the bolt withdrawn from the mor- 4o ening-bolt detached Fig.4is a top plan View tise, and when the bolt is withdrawn I reof the pawl and rock-shaft detached. lease the pressure upon the shaft, and the A is a portion of the body of a coffin, casket, spring will throw the shaft. and pawl back to or any other form or design of a box, and B their normal positions. WVhen used upon a is the cover thereof. eoffin or casket, I can use two on each side of O is the body of the fastener, constructed the cover, and an undertaker and his assistto be mortised into the edge of the coffin or ant can stand one on each side or end and casket, and comprising a face-plate 1, having unlock a fastener with each hand and raise screw-holes adjacent to its ends; studs 2, the cover,

\Vhat I claim is In witness whereof I have hereunto set my The combination, with the looking bolt hand this 23d day of January, 1890.

having a ratchet on one side, of a spring-pawl mounted upon a rock-shaft pivot-ed under the 5 face-plate of the body of the 100k and projecting outward, and adapted to slide the CHARLES E. IIAMS.

In presence of pawl out of engagement with the ratchet, as A. \V. REYNOLDS, set forth. H. 11'. II'ATHEWAY. 

